When they arrived, heavy smoke billowed out of the building. Other fire units, CRTC and Gulfport Fire Department, were called in to help contain the fire.
Firefighters– in conjunction with the sprinkler system– successfully put out the fire.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and so far, no injuries have been reported.
In a Facebook post, firefighters said the structure fire broke out early Tuesday morning.
The fire alarm and fire sprinkler system activation alerted the fire department.
Firefighters who responded to the scene said they were able to contain the fire and keep damage to a minimum because the “fire codes and safety building feature worked perfectly.”
Investigators said the cause of the fire was a ceiling bathroom exhaust fan.
The post read, “This could have had a completely different ending it if were not for the fire sprinkler system and fire alarm system all working just like designed.”
Signs on the building advertise luxury apartment units for rent as well as office and retail space.
Cosby said as he left his unit, he grabbed his wallet so he would have identification on hand. Everything else, including family heirlooms, he left behind.
He could see and smell smoke as he headed down the stairs.
Cosby and his roommate looked worried as they stood on the sidewalk across the street to watch the firefighters at work.
“We don’t know what is what inside. We got to wait and see,” he said.
Fire breaks out on 10th floor of downtown Jackson building
At least five firetrucks rushed on scene. A firefighter could be seen opening three windows on the 10th floor of the building, letting the smoke out.
Summer Land lives on 10th floor of the building. She said she was doing homework when the alarm started blaring. Not long after that, the sprinkler system kicked in.
Tenants were told to evacuate and not use the elevators, Land said.
“It was very clear what we should do. It was loud, too,” she said.
Subway restaurant employees, who work on the ground floor of the same building, were also evacuated, as water continued to trickle down from above.
No finished goods were damaged, and the fire should cause only a day of disruption at the plant, which already was scheduled to close a couple of days this week for a bi-annual inventory count.
Executive Vice President of Sales Jay Quimby said the situation turned out as well as it could have.
Quimby added that United will send out a letter to customers alerting them to the situation.
Voyles says Nichols met an officer at the front door of the school and was detained. “He opened the door for the officers, and the officer didn’t know if he was an employee or whatever it was,” Voyles said. The motive for the incident is still under investigation.
